About

Welcome, I’m glad you stopped by.

I hope you’re having an enjoyable wander, finding things that pique your interest.

For the Beginner Watercolorists, you’ll find a lot of resource information within the Watercolor Basics Page. Others, interested in a broader scope of experimental art, expressing creativity, learning how to see things differently…. The Search button will be a fabulous tool!

Debi Riley, Visual Arts Instructor

Why I teach & share Art ….

I find I always want to know “the Why” of things!

So, “why” do I teach?

I find it incredibly satisfying to share with others the different ways Individuals may express their own uniquely creative voice, their own thoughts and feelings.

For many years I taught “Absolute Beginners Watercolours” at a community college in Sydney. Life changed with a series of multiple international transfers. However, with those exciting transfers to new cities, art centres, colleges, I heard the same thing.

“No.

We don’t need a beginner’s watercolour teacher. We already have one.”

Many times though, that “No” was followed with a new question.

“But, can you teach something Different?“

And each time I said, “YES. I CAN.”

I adapted. My mindset changed.

Different isn’t merely what I’m used to doing now, it is truly what I most enjoy doing.

I don’t think I am nearly as afraid of “NO” now.

“No” has taught me so many lessons. Presenting the opportunity to build resilience, resolve, and to become more purpose driven. Learning to take Risks in being authentically, vulnerably, Different.

Hi Debi: I am new to receiving your blogs….just signed up..I am a “Raw Beginner”..in learning about art but just to let you know ..your teaching is excellent..and I am happy to,join your followers!..I live in Canada..and a small scenic city!..Picking up on .. “Colour “..joanne

Debi, thanks for stopping by my Kamakura Mirror Micropoetry blog. I’ve have been thinking of starting watercolors, so finding your blog is a kind of serendipity. I’ll start with “10 Tips to Get You Started.”

Hi Debi (and as I type Debi, I realized that I may gave called you Deb on a reply)
Anyway – I had to smile at your About comments. The knowledge of art without the knowledge of computer 🙂
I look forward to checking out your work!
Laurie

Deb – I am SO EXCITED that your blog appeared in my WordPress feed! I am a beginner trying to teach myself watercolor painting – and your post today was so valuable to me! Can’t wait to read more and follow and learn from you!!!

Hi Jodi, I’m glad too! Hopefully, the tips help eliminate frustrations you face just setting out in watercolours 🙂 Thank you for coming in to have a look- liking, following, sharing etc… I appreciate it!!
And, If you have some watercolour questions that pop up ask. If I can answer them, I will! thank you for stopping in & your kind comments 🙂 Debi

Hi Debi! Nice to meet another Washingtonian! 😊 Thank you for liking so many posts on my blog – such a nice surprise! 💙 Glad to see you like color too and experimenting in different art mediums! YAY! 🎨 I look forward to reading your posts too – I’m now a follower of your blog! 😊😄😊

Hi Debi,
How stunning to get all your likes this morning!!! And that from a fellow artist! Thank you so much for them!
And then discovering your lively, beautiful art blog!!!! I like your paintings and thoughts about art…and colour…very much!
The trip I have begun here just now seems so fascinating, contagious, and it sparks my imagination.
I have begun to follow you ! Looking forward to my next visit!
Thanks, Debi!
All the best, Petra

i cannot believe i’ve not read this About section before. I’m not famous, or have any awards. I taught myself how to paint with watercolor & loved it. I have been commissioned for a prayer book. but reading this was a bit of a shock because i just started a new painting, using everything the art kids have taught me over the years. a bit of this & that, perhaps that will be the paintings title? Forgive me for not reading this before now, Deb. I’ve always enjoyed seeing you in my comments & considered you a friend. Your work is amazing. i’m looking for your coon cat picture now…talk to you later! ~amy

Debi – Thanks for stopping by Art & Tulips. You are a person after my own heart (“Sure, I can teach that!”) In San Diego now, but from Whidbey Island, Bellevue, Seattle…Walla Walla… 😉
Your work is lovely. Molly

Oh my goodness! I’m so glad you stumbled across my blog because that has led me to yours. The visuals here are beautiful. Stunning. I love that you have embraced trying out new ideas and techniques. Just yesterday I mentioned to someone that I dabble in photography by default – because I don’t know how to paint. Maybe I should just be brave and give it a try! K. Xx

I’m a fan of abstracts, generally speaking. Yours are fabulous so I was quite surprised to find myself most drawn to “Summer colours”. Maybe it’s the shaped border. Or maybe it’s because it reminds me of where I walk my dog. The colours. I don’t know what it is – specifically – but I love, love, love that painting.

Dear Debi, I’ve just received the WordPress 2015 annual report, and you are one of the people who commented the most my website. So I just wanted to say THANK YOU, have a wonderful new year and great new Art coming.

Thanks so much for checking out my blog, Debi. I also love painting, but I’ve found that my time has been taken up with writing and quilting so there isn’t much time left to devote to painting. Maybe I’ll get inspired to pick up the brushes again by following your blog.

you’re welcome! and its so true, there’s little enough time to do what one has set as a focus; let alone all the other little side bits and tangents!
I’ll look at your site for ‘cool misty relief’, you have great photos of the NW!

Phew > That quote from Herman Melville is so true and definitely inspiring. I feel like rolling up my sleeves and getting on with it right now! Love your impressionist water technique. Do you reveal how to do that somewhere in your blog?

Hi Debi, I found your site via Charlie O’Shields doodlewashes. On your home page, I noticed you have quite a few Australian plant imagery, so wondered if you were Australian. Reading this About page, it seems your American, travellin’ around with hubby. What an adventure that must be! I have no doubt you are finding Aussie plants make for great inspiration for abstractions, as I’ve noted. I like them too, for that reason, and because they’re colourful, weird, unique and sometimes whacky! Now a Follower… 😀
Oh, PS: I think it would be most helpful to list out, in full, the name of an organisation that gave you an Award, as we don’t know acronyms, eg MCAA.

Hi Debi I came across your beautiful Art and Blog from a comment that you left to John latest featured at Doodlewash. I am glad I came to visit and see your creativity. I am an artist designer and I love to express my creativity uniquely and in different mediums I can relate with you in a way we are similar. I see that you love to experiment same me! I create unique jewelry inspired by nature and I love watercolors, photography, digital art, illustration, poetry and more. I just follow your Blog and I hope that you will visit mine I am always happy to interact with other inspiring artists 😉 Cheers Carolina

“It’s better to fail at originality than to succeed at imitation” (Herman Melville). Profound? Yes. But how do we find originality when as artists, poets, writers et al our daily bread is discovering the inspiration that great artists share with us. And from that inspiration we take a little here and there and add a little of our own; then from the mix we create something we choose to call originality which in time becomes our style. I don’t know how you found me or what attracted you but I am always pleased to find another creative in the world. Keep well. James

Hi James, great comment!! Thanks for that. We artists do breathe in, little bits of inspirations all around us, all the time! I found you from looking at some new writing/photo tags of WP…and then just looking! lol Thanks so much, for stopping by and ‘chatting.’ Cheers, Debi

Dear Debi, i have turned to your “about” page to gather some guidance on what you and others have published there. I find this world of the internet a bit overwhelming and also simply wonderful. i am so pleased to be able to see some of your work and learn from you. i hope to move into more abstract rendering of my images and thoughts and to gradually create a better blog as well.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Holly

internet. it is a minefield! for me its like wandering into the huge endless State library…. and feeling lost in the vastness. but its much better when I go with a specific, narrow, target to search for on that day. I did not begin…my painting life in abstracts. it slowly emerged. evolved. as i used my camera also to snap shots, I found out I zoomed in on abstracted patterns so very often! we learn. we grow. I like the saying, “water upon the stones” for to me it reflects that with time and persistence, I will… get there. and so will YOU!! thank You so much Holly for such a lovely comment here. I honestly, value it! cheers, Debi

Thank you Debi, for taking the time to respond. I find the camera is a useful tool for as you say, zooming in on what attracts one to an object and learning about it’s properties through framing and exposure. I am also learning to use my sketchbook as my primary recording device because when i do i find i am really observing and seeing.
Holly

You are welcome Debi. My mom was an artist and a master with oils. Her talents didn’t seem to manifest in my gene structure although I keep trying. After all Monet, Katz and van Gogh were late bloomers, lol. We enjoy your talents a lot.

Hi Debi, what a delightful, inspiring, all encompassing take on creativity you have. From the quick look at your work on this page I like it – a lot! Thank you so much for the follow. I think you’ve hooked me in too 🙂

Hi Debi, love your work : ] I run an art school in Mona Vale Sydney. Not sure where you are based at the present, but would be wonderful if you were interested to run an experimental landscape workshop at Sydney Art Space. Kind Regards, Christine Simpson http://www.sydneyartspace.com